Thursday, February 2, 2012

So you're eyeing a fancy tablet or other Android device in the store. It comes with nice nice features that entice you and you're seriously considering buying it... the only problem is that it does not come with the standard Google services that many Android phone users use and enjoy on a daily basis. This kills the deal for you and you walk away, saddened that such an appealing device does not support these services.

What?! No Market? What treachery!

Well turn around and go back to the store because there is a way to get the Google Services Framework up and running on the device, giving you the ability to sync your contacts, calendar, and any other Google services you would like to run. You will also have access to the latest version of the Android Market, giving you access to an unlimited amount of apps.

So how do you get started? Just follow these steps and in a few minutes your Android device will have all the appropriate services installed, unlocking the full potential of your device.

1. Download the apk files. You will first need to download the apk files that will install on your device and load it with the Google Services Framework. I found the file here: http://www.filestube.com/5ftB6eejpyHc7leyeUoB1j/gapps-hdpi-20101114-signed.html. I did this from my computer so I could find and extract the files easier, then upload it to the device via USB.
2. Transfer them to the device. Once the package has downloaded, transfer the extracted files to an easy-to-remember place on your device.
3. Install the apk files. apk installer apps will vary on devices - with some you can simply launch the app and it will locate apk files for you - other times you will need to manually browse to the files and launch them individually to allow the default apk installer program to install them. The critical service that you will need to install in order for all other services to work is the GoogleServicesFramework.apk. This, as the name suggests, is the framework that will tie your Google account into all the other services.
4. Choose services to install. From here, you can install any service you want to run on your device. They're all pretty straight-forward; GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk will sync your Google contacts to be used for email and other purposes, GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk will sync your events in Google Calendar, etc.
5. Install the Market (updated 2/21/12). Unfortunately, the Vending.apk file that came with this package did not work for me, so I had the brilliant idea of just trying to install a different version of the market. Follow the instructions here to download and install the Android Market: http://nwteche.com/red7_blog/install-android-market-on-coby-kyros-mid7012-or-most-other-tablets-running-android-2-3-3/
6. Enjoy! At this point, you should be able to open any of the apps you installed. Upon opening the first app, you should be prompted to login to your Google account. If this is successful, it will log you in and begin syncing the services. This can usually be seen up in the tray as two arrows in a circle. When the services have synced you will be able to use any current and future Google Apps on your device!

These steps have been tested and verified with multiple Android devices.

Please note that this information is provided on a informational basis. If you brick your device or need any further help, that is not what this blog is intended for. Please keep the "it didn't work for me" posts to yourself as this is not a one stop fix all solution. If it didn't work for you, go to google and ask it for your specific device. We aren't even the original developers. This is just a collection of easy to find information. Contact the source site for support.